Miles Traveled: 72
Average speed: 13 mph
Elevation Gain: 2,000 feet
Maximum Speed: 34 mph
Most typically asked question: Where you headed?
Most typical reaction: Are you crazy?
Most typical follow-up: When do you expect to get to Canada?
Which is how Mike found out that Charlie, a fellow he met at a rest stop, has his same birthday -- June 17 -- the day Mike is scheduled to pedal into Owen Sound, Canada and complete his trip. Should be quite a memorable birthday.
Mike is cooling his heels in Aberdeen, Miss., at a hotel thanks to the Aberdeen Church of Christ. He thought he might actually have to break out the tent tonight, as the church preacher was unable to provide a place to stay. But ever-resourceful Mike managed to hunt down an elder from the church by stopping at a florist shop and asking if they knew any members of the local Church of Christ. They did, and Mike is grateful as rain was imminent on Friday evening. So he's looking forward to a light day tomorrow with only 50 miles to Fulton, Miss., and a light day on Sunday, when he will take time out to go to church services.
"I’m ready to ease off before I hit those hills in Tennessee. It’s going to be a challenge," he says.
He's not kidding! Here is an elevation map of a portion of the route in Alabama:
And here is an elevation map for a portion of the route in Tennessee:
Mike is also suffering from what biker's call "hot feet." Sometime after lunch each day, around the time he hits 50 miles or so, his feet start to feel like they are going to explode into flames. So he has to loosen his shoes, move his feet around and wiggle his toes to try to get the hot foot feeling to ease. Other than that his legs are sore; but his rear is in good shape, he says!
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